Three Wee Williamsons

We are having a baby!

A baby BOY!

We are thrilled, the girls are excited. SG was a little sad, she was expecting a girl. We are so excited for this new adventure in parenting and for the amazing opportunity to raise a son.

My dad and stepmom were with us when we found out, it was such a cool experience to share with them. Sometimes we really feel the geographical distance from family and it was so nice to do this together. I had a hunch it was a boy, as this pregnancy has been exactly how my mom described her's with my brothers. No sickness, yay! I felt sick for all of one day but really its been such a blessing with two little ones at home. Here's hoping the 2nd half goes as well. I'm working with a team of midwives and plan to deliver at a birthing center (really close to the house). I'm looking forward to a different birthing experience, I didn't get in the hospital.

Out of all the amazing places I've worked and all the incredibly talented people I've work with, next to being a wife, being a mom is my favorite job. And my girls, new baby boy and Owen are my favorite co-workers.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to our many friends still working to get there family here. Its a road that I see so much strength and courage in enduring. You are developing in ways that will take me a lifetime too, if not longer. I admire you.

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arrivals

Spring has arrived in Norfolk as have other things such as seasonal allergies, but most importantaly, Cecily's hair!! It is red red red, curly and beautiful! We are finally to the "pony" stage, this makes me SO incredibly happy. One of my favorite things about being a mom is getting to do my little girls' hair everyday. Because Cecily's hair is so curly, in a pony it curls out like a fountain or if it get it wet is one big cute curl.

Thanks mom and dad for passing on a red hair gene to me. And thanks Owen for being red hair gene dominant. I love red heads and love that I get to raise one and hope that I can teach her that she is unique, beautiful and special.

Love you Ceci-boo

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Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup copycat recipe

I nailed it! Man this soup was amazing! Just FYI i mostly blog my recipes so i dont have to write them down...most of my favs are saved online anyway. I've been on a soup kick lately and recently had Panera's broccoli cheese and i had forgotten how much i loved it. So here is my healthier version of Panera's soup...and it tastes the same to me!

First, break out the crock pot and put in 1 1/2 cups hot water, turn on low, add a good pinch of salt (if you have chicken broth or stock use that, i didn't have any, the water was fine, and keeps it vegetarian...if you're into that)

1 onion diced and sauteed in a little olive oil until translucent
While onions are cooking chop up
2 carrots (i did about 12 baby carrots)
2 bunches of fresh broccoli
(I also cut up a potato i had baked the night before...adds nice texture and thickens the soup, but not a necessary ingredient)
When onions are done dump all the veggies in the crock pot

Heat 2 cups of milk in the microwave (3 mins, and i used 2% instead of cream, fat free milk might not turn out as nice...)
Then in the pan you did the onions, melt 1 tbls butter and add 1tbls flour ( i use rice flour to make it GF). Cook, while stirring with a whisk. Then add the hot milk and whisk until thickened. Add milk mixture to crock pot. I added a sprinkle of ranch dressing powder...made it super yummy. Stir the pot and walk away for 2 hours or so.

Then in batches...put the soup in your blender on a low setting just till everything is mushed (not liquified), pour into a separate bowl, when all the soup is blended throw it back in the crock pot for 20 mins. (this might seem like its a lot of trouble but its really not that bad and makes for a really nice consistency and texture!)

When your almost ready to eat stir in 2 cups of cheddar cheese. (I did one cup sharp, one cup white...we like strong cheese!) Then serve! So yummy, try it out! We ate it with homemade bread. This soup also freezes well!

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Cream of Tomato Soup

I just had to post this recipe because it was SO yummy. I don't have a picture...we scarfed it so fast there wasn't time, but I'll be sure to snap one and post it when I heat up my leftovers tomorrow. My recipes fortunately are a hit more than a miss (I do have my misses) but I nailed this one! I just made it up yesterday because I was dying for some tomato soup but didn't have any and the girls were napping so I couldn't run out and pick some up. So I made it up! And it has ingredients that your probably already have in your pantry.

2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 yellow onion chopped finely
saute together in a little butter until onions are translucent
in a blender add the above sauteed ingredients and
2 cans of diced tomatoes in their juice
1/4 tsp tyme
1/4 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp Montreal chicken seasoning
salt to taste...I did about 1 tsp
blend until smooth
pour into a pot, add a bay leaf and cook on low until bubbling
then stir in
1 cup greek yogurt (this makes it creamy, yummy and full of protein)
remove bay leaf, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve

We had this for lunch with "cheesy bread" -bread, top with sliced cheddar and pop it under the broiler until melty. Super yummy, try it out! I'll add a picture as soon as I can!